Power-driven cleaning and the like machine



April 14, 1964 w. KAMMANN- PowER-DR'IvEN CLEANING AND THE LIKE MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y Filed Aug. 6, 1962 Ianni.. I

- ATTORNEY April 14, 1964 w. KAMMANN POWER-DRIVEN CLEANING AND THE LIKE MACHINE Filed Aug. e, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [lll/l/l//lllllllll f2@ fza 276 27d 29 llllllll Il INVENTOR. hzQ/vfe Mmm/MMV ATTORNEY April 14, 1964 w. KAMMANN POWER-DRIVEN CLEANING AND THE LIKE MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 6, 1962 ATTORNE Y United States Patent O 3,128,486 POWER-DRIVEN CLEANING AND THE LiKE MACI-HNE Werner Kammann, Box 625, Bunde, Westphalia, Germany Filed Aug. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 215,202 Claims priority, application Germany Aug. 5, 1961 12 Claims. (Cl. l5-5l) The present invention relates generally to power-driven cleaning machines and the like appliances and, more particularly, though not limitatively, to floor scrubbing or Washing machines of the type described in copending U.S. patent application Serial No. 44,310, led July 2l, 1960, in the name of the present inventor as joint inventor, said machine comprising essentially a wheeled carrier movable over a surface to be cleaned or treated, an endless ilexible member, such as a belt or chain, etc., having its outer surface tted with a multiplicity of projecting cleaning elements, such as scrubbing brushes, substantially uniformly distributed thereover, and guide and power drive means mounted upon said carrier to maintain said member in continuous translatory movement, in such a manner as to cause a constantly chang-ing fractional operative portion thereof to be in working pressure engagement with said surface. As applied to a floor washer, the device may furthermore comprise a collecting tank also mounted upon said carrier and a feeding trough having one end disposed adjoining the trailing edge of 4the operating portion of said member and having its opposite end disposed above said tank, to provide the equivalent of a `drag conveyer, whereby to perform the triple function by said member of providing traction for propelling the machine over said surface in the forward direction in the manner of a caterpillar tractor, of scrubbing the surface being moved over to break up dirt particles to be absorbed by the scrubbing water having been previously sprinkled upon said surface, and finally to remove the scrub water by conveyer action of said member in cooperation with said trough. In other words, the endless brush belt or the like member combines the functions of power drive, scrubbing and mopping or scrub water removal in a single integrated cleaning operation, in such a manner as to result in a maximum of operating efficiency with a minimum of constructional parts or elements being required, in comparison with similar floor Washing machines or the like appliances known according to the prior art.

In the iloor scrubbing machine of the type referred to and described by the aforementioned copending application, the brush belt is ldriven by a suitable power drive supported by the frame or carrier of the machine, such as an electric motor, in such a manner as to cause the machine to be propelled in the forward direction as a result of the traction produced by the operating pressure between the brushes andthe surface being cleaned. This involves the expenditure of a minimum of effort on the part of the operator or user by requiring a mere guidance or steering of the machine to move in the desired (-fore) direction. On the other hand, in order to move the machine in the opposite or aft direction, to complete the scrub water removal or to effect moppiug or drying of the surface, an appreciable force is still required to overcome the friction between the brushes and said surface, as well as the forward torque produced thereby during the continued driving engagement with the power source.

Accordingly, an important object of the present -invention is lthe provision of control mechanism operably associated with the steering member of a floor scrubbing or the like machine of the type referred to, whereby motive driving power will be applied to and removed ICC from the machine in the af-t direction in response to a relatively slight pressure applied to the steering handle or the like operating member of the machine.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of control means operably connected with the steering handle or the like operating member of a floor scrubbing or the like machine of the type referred to, whereby the machine normally being continuously urged in the forward direction 4by a iirst power drive, may be -driven in the aft direction by the provision of normally idle or free-wheeling auxiliary driving means, upon pulling the steering handle or the like control member in a rearward Idirection 4for the operation of a clutch operatively associated with said auxiliary driving means.

The invention, both as to the foregoing and ancillary objects as well as novel aspects, will be better understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which:

FIG. l is an outline view of a floor scrubbing or the like machine embodying the improvements according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation, shown partly in section, illustrating in greater detail the construction of the machine according -to `IFIG. l, in particular the improved steering column control mechanism according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational v-iew of lthe gear drive Vforming part of the control mechanism of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the control mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of the control mechanism;

PIG. 6 `further schematically shows in side elevation the construction of the steering column control device; and

BIG. 7 is a still further schematic view illustrating the control mechanism according to the invention.

Like reference numerals denote like par-ts and elements throughout the different views of the drawings.

With the foregoing objects in view, the invention, according to one of its aspects, involves generally the provision, in connection with a iioor cleaning machine of the type referred to, of a steering column connected to the wheeled carrier of the machine and terminating in an operating handle or the like operating member being relatively slidably mounted upon said column, and motiontransmitting means connecting the power drive (electric motor, etc.) also mounted upon said carrier with a releasable clutch for transmitting operating torque or driving motion to at least one of the supporting wheels of the machine in response to an operating force or pressure applied to said handle.

In the specific embodiment of a floor scrubbing machine embodying an endless scrubbing member constantly driven by the power source of the machine, to propel the machine in the fore direction, in the manner pointed out, the auxiliary drive via the supporting wheels may be such as to be controlled upon application of a rearward pull upon the steering or operating handle, to cause the machine to reverse its movement with a minimum of effort being required on the part of the operator. For this purpose, the continuous motionetransmitting means between the power drive and the endless cleaning member propelling the machine in the fore direction, on the one hand, and the intermittently controlled motion-transmitting means between said drive and the supporting wheels, to move the machine in the aft direction, on the other hand, are such as to cause the driving torques tov be properly related to result in the desired combined movement, in the manner as will be further understood as the following description proceeds.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown by the drawings, the steering device may consist of a pair of parallel columns or tubes secured to and slanting in the rearward direction' in respect to the wheeled carrier of the machine, the free ends of said tubes being joined by a U-shaped steering handle having each of its ends slidably mounted in the end of one of said tubes or columns, respectively. Furthermore slidably disposed Within said columns are the arms of a U-shaped coupling member having its free ends connected to the respective arms of said handle and having a cross-bar connected through suitable motion-transmitting linkage means with the movable element of a releasable clutch, the fixed element of said clutch being coupled with the power drive of the machine. As a consequence, in steering the machine, by simply holding the handle, the machine moves in the forward direction by virtue of the traction provided by the endless driving member, with the supporting wheels being in idling or free-wheeling condition. On the other hand, a slight pull on said handle in the rearward direction suffices to shift the movable clutch element to a position of engagement with the xed clutch element, whereby to move the machine in the aft direction, substantially without any undue effort on the part of 'the operator. ln other words, the machine is power driven in both the fore and aft directions by the same power source, whereby to result in maximum operating eiciency and economy of the cleaning or the like operation being performed.

In order to support the electric power cable feeding the drive motor such as to prevent interference with the movement and operation of the machine, there may be advantageously provided an extensible cable supporting an Outrigger arm mounted upon the steering column or handle and being adjustable in its length, such as by a telescopic construction, and retractable to an inoperative position.

While in the following the invention will be described with reference to a floor scrubbing machine of the specific type referred to and described in said copending application, it will become evident that the drive control mechanism structurally embodied in the steering column of both single and plural drive machines, may be used with equal advantage in connection with similar power-driven machines of the general type shown and described herein, such as door waxing and polishing machines, lawn mowers, and the like devices or appliances.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the machine collectively designated by the numeral 1i), FIGS. l and 2, for the scrubbing or cleaning or plane surfaces, such as floors, windows, etc., is driven by an electric motor l1 through a pair of rear supporting wheels l2 (see also FIGS. 6 and 7), on the one hand, and by the additional propelling means extending substantially across the entire width of the machine and consisting of an endless brush belt or chain fitted with a multiplicity of scrubbing or cleaning brushes E3. In the example shown, the machine 16 is both guided and controlled in the fore and aft directions by the aid of a pair of hollow steering columns or tubes 14 extending rearwardly from the machine at a suitable slanting angle.

Slidably mounted, through a pair of guide sleeves 16, upon the ends of the steering columns 14 which are secured to a vertical supporting plate 10a mounted in the rear portion of the machine, are the side arms of a U- shaped operating handle 1S, said sleeves being rigidly connected to the ends of said handle and embracing the upper ends of the columns 14. Furthermore slidably disposed within the columns 14 is a U-shaped coupling member 17 the two side arms of which are secured to the arms of the handle 15 in any suitable manner, as furthermore shown in FIGS. 5-7.

Secured to the cross-arm 17a of the coupling member 17 is a pin 1S to which is connected a downwardly extending pressure lever 19. The lower end of the lever 19 is fitted with a joint 26 carrying one end of a swinging lever 21 which is connected to a rotating bolt or pin 22. The latter which projects into a gear box 24 mounted upon the supporting frame 23 of the machine lll at its free end carries a further lever arm 25 being at right angle to the arm 21, to form a bell crank lever together with the latter. Secured to the end of the arm 25 is a shifting fork 26 which serves to operate a disk clutch 27 mounted upon the axle 28 of the wheels 12, said clutch being controlled by the handle l5 by way of the motion-transmitting linkage mechanism comprised of the coupling member l and the levers t9, 21 and 25. The entire drive is housed in the box 24 (see also FlGS. 3 to 6) arranged parallel to the columns i4 and mounted upon the frame 23 of the machine.

The supporting axle 2S of the wheels 12 is journalled in the side walls 24a and Zdb of the box 24, FIG. 3, by means of a pair of flanged bearings 29 being advantageously tted with roller or ball bearings 30 mounted therein by presstlt engagement. The shifting fork 26 cooperates with the movable element 27a of the disk clutch 27, while a worm gear 31 is secured to the cooperating clutch element 27h mounted upon the axle 28, said gear being supported by a sleeve 32 fitted with linings 32a and being secured against displacement by a locking ring 33.

Mounted upon tre gear box 24 is a flanged electric driving motor 11 having a downward slanting driving shaft 34 projecting into the box 213 and being supported at its free lower end by a thrust bearing 35 suitably tted with roller or ball bearings 35a. A worm 36 mounted upon shaft 34 meshes with the gear 3l to transmit rotary motion from the motor 1l to the axle 28 in the engaged position of the clutch 27. Arranged above and parallel to the axle 28 is a further stepped shaft 38 supported by a flanged sleeve 37 mounted in the side wall 24a and fitted with roller or ball bearings 37a, shaft 3S having se'- cured thereto at its end projecting into the box 24 a bevel gear 39 which meshes with a further and smaller bevel gear llt) mounted upon the motor drive shaft 34. Secured to the free outer end 3fm of the shaft 33 projecting from the gear box 24 is a belt pulley 41, FIG. 2.

The front part or" the machine lll carries a housing 42 enclosing the cleaning device proper, the latter comprising, in the example shown, three horizontal shafts 43, 44 and 45 each of which carries a pair of spaced gears do, d'7 and 48, respectively. Cooperating with each of the p airs of gears 46, 47 and 4S is an endless continuously running chain 49. The uppermost shaft 43 projects laterally from the housing d2 and carries a belt pulley 50 at its free end, said pulley being operably connected with the pulley 41 upon the shaft 38 through a conical belt or the like transmission member, to apply continuous driving motion from the motor 11 to the chains 49.

The chains 49 are fitted with a multiplicity of scrubbing brushes 13 forming a continuous brush belt and serving to eilect scrubbing of the surface being cleaned and to convey scrub water to a collecting tank 53 mounted upon the rear of the housing 42 by the action of a guide trough 52 and horizontal stripping rod 52a. Engagement of the brushes by the stripping rod 52a results in dirt and other particles, as well as the scrub Water absorbed by the brushes being ejected from the brushes and dislcharged into the tank 53, whereby to clean the brushes, 1n the manner described in greater detail in the abovementioned copending application. At the same time, the brush belt comprised of the chains 49 and brushes 13 acts as the forward driving means of the machine, as indicated by the arrow A, in the manner of a caterpillar tractor.

The housing 42 is connected through a tube or hose 54 with a clean water tank or reservoir 55 advantageously mounted between the steering columns 14, to supply or feed fresh cleaning water from the tank and to discharge it unto the surface being cleaned from the front end of the machine, while the scrub water containing dirt and other particles collected in the tank 53 may be removed by means of a suction pump (not shown) to a scrub water tank by way of a tube or hose 56, tank 57 being advantageously mounted above the motor 11, as shown in the drawing.

The operation of the machine aforedescribed is as follows. During the movement of the machine in the forward direction, the brushes 13 are driven in the direction indicated by the arrow A, FIGS. 1 and 2, by the motor shaft 34 driving the bevel gears 39, 40 and resulting, in turn, 46 by the belt 51, the latter being in driving connection with the bevel gears 39, 40 through the pulley 41. Gear drive 46 by driving the chains 49 causes movement of the brushes 13 to result in the movement of the machine in the forward direction by the traction between the brushes and the surface being cleaned, on the one hand, and in the performance ofthe scrubbing or cleaning operation in the manner pointed out, on the other hand. During this (forward) movement of the machine, the wheels 12 are free-wheeling or idling upon the axle 28. The worm 36 meshing with the worm gear 31 does not transmit any motion to the wheels on account of the clutch 17 being in the released or disengaged position due to the worm 31 and one of the clutch elements being free or disengaged from the axle Z8. On the other hand, upon exerting a slight rearward pull upon the handie 15, resulting in the displacement of the latter away from the ends of the steering columns 14 through the action of the guide sleeves 16, the shifting fork 2d is caused to engage the movable element 27a of the clutch 27 by way of the linkage mechanism 17, 19, 22, 25, in such a manner as to transmit rotary motion to the axle 28 and, in turn, to the wheels 12, and to drive the machine in the aft direction. As will be understood, the design of the motion-transmitting means from the motor 11 to the brushes 13, on the one hand, and to the wheels 12, on the other hand, that is, the torque conversion by the gears 39, 40 and 31, 36, respectively, must be such as to produce a greater rearward torque on the wheels 12 compared with the forward torque of the brushes 13, to ensure a resultant torque in the reverse direction upon engagement of the clutch 37, in the manner described.

A special advantage of the machine described herein is the fact that a simple and relatively slight pressure or pull upon the steering handle in the sense of the desired movement of the machine automatically serves to control both the fore and aft movement with a minimum of effort to be exerted on the part of the operator. As a consequence, the cleaning action may be intensified by an accelerated dirt and scrub Water collection coupled with an effective scrubbing action. This, in turn, results in increased operating efficiency of the machine and a substantial reduction of the cleaning time.

While the invention has been described in the foregoing With reference to specific illustrative devices, it will be evident that variations and modifications, as well as the substitution of equivalent parts and elements for those shown herein for illustration, may be made without departing from the broader scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense.

I claim:

1. A machine of the character described comprising a wheeled carrier, an endless exible member having its outer surface fitted with a multiplicity of projecting scrubbing elements substantially uniformly distributed thereover, guide and power drive means for said member mounted upon said carrier, to maintain said member in continuous movement and to cause a constantly changing fractional operative portion thereof to be in pressure engagement with a pre-sprinkled surface being cleaned and to propel said carrier in the forward direction by tracin rotation of the shaft 43 and gear drive tion between said member and said surface, a collecting tank and a feeding trough upon said carrier, said trough having one end disposed adjoining the trailing edge of said operative portion of said member and having its opposite end disposed above said tank, said trough being disposed adjacent to and cooperating with an ascending portion of said member following said operative portion, to provide a drag conveyer for removing scrub water from said surface and discharging it into said tank, a steering column connected to said carrier terminating in an operating handle relatively slidably mounted thereon, releasable clutch means connecting said power drive means with at least one of the wheels of said carrier, and motion-transmitting means connecting said handle with said clutch means, to intermittently power drive said carrier via said wheel in the rearward direction in response to a rearward pull upon said handle.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, said power drive means consisting of a continuously running driving motor, first motion-transmitting and torque-converting means between said motor and said member, to drive said machine in the fore direction with a predetermined torque exerted by said member, said clutch means having relatively fixed and movable clutch elements, and second motion-transmitting and torque-converting means between said motor and said fixed clutch element, to drive said carrier in the aft direction with a torque in excess of said predetermined torque, upon engagement of said fixed and movable clutch elements in response to the pull upon said handle.

3. A machine as claimed in claim l, said clutch means having relatively fixed and movable clutch elements, said steering column being comprised of a pair of rearwardly slanting parallel tubes secured to said carrier, and said handle consisting of a U-shaped member having the ends of its side arms slidably mounted each within an end of said tubes, and a U-shaped coupling member having its side arms also arranged to slide within said tubes and connected at each end thereof to one of said first arms, respectively, and linkage mechanism between the crossarm of said coupling member and the movable element of said clutch means.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 1, said power drive means consisting of a continuously running driving motor, first motion-transmitting and torque-converting means between said motor and said member, to drive said machine with a predetermined torque in the fore direction, said clutch means having relatively fixed and movable clutch elements, second motion-transmitting and torque-converting means between said motor and said fixed clutch element, said steering column being comprised of a pair of parallel and rearwardly slanting supporting tubes secured to said carrier, a U-shaped handle having each of its side arms slidably mounted within an end of one of said tubes, a U-shaped coupling member having its side arms also arranged to slide within said tubes and connected at each end of one arm of said handle, respectively, and linkage means connecting the cross-arm of said coupling member with the movable element of said clutch means, to drive said machine in the aft direction with a torque in excess of said predetermined torque.

5. A machine of the character described comprising a wheeled carrier, an endless flexible member having its outer surface fitted with a multiplicity of projecting treating elements substantially uniformly distributed thereover, guide and power drive means for said member mounted upon said carrier, to maintain said member in continuous movement and to cause a constantly changing portion fractional operative thereof to be in pressure engagement with a surface being treated and to propel said carrier in the fore direction by traction between said member and said surface, a steering column connected to said carrier terminating in an operating handle relatively slidably mounted thereon, releasable clutch means connecting said drive means with at least one of the wheels of said carrier, and motion-transmitting coupling means connecting said handle with said clutch means, to power drive said carrier via said wheel in the aft direction by rearward pull imparted to said handle.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 5, said power drive means consisting of a continuously running driving motor, first motion-transmitting and torque-covering means between said motor and said member, to drive said machine in the fore direction with a predetermined torque exerted by said member, said clutch means having relatively fixed and movable clutch elements, and second motion-transmitting and torque-converting means between said motor and said fixed clutch element, to drive said machine in the aft direction with a torque in excess of said predetermined torque upon engagement of said iixed and movable clutch elements, in response to a rearward pull upon said handle.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 5, said clutch means having relatively fixed and movable clutch elements, said steering column being comprised of a pair of rearwardly slanting supporting tubes secured to said carrier, and said handle consisting of a U-shaped member having the ends of each of its side arms slidably mounted within the end of one of said tubes, and a U-shaped coupling member also having its side arms arranged to slide within said tubes and connected at each end to one of said rst arms, respectively, and linkage mechanism connecting the crossarm of said coupling member with the movable element of said clutch means.

8. A machine as claimed in claim 5, said power drive means consisting of a continuously running driving motor, first motion-transmitting and torque-converting means between said motor and said member, to drive said machine in the tore direction with a predetermined torque exerted by said member, said clutch means having relatively fixed and movable clutch elements, second motion-transmitting and torque-converting means between said motor and said fixed clutch element, said steerinc column being comprised of a pair of parallel rearwardly slanting supporting tubes mounted upon said carrier, a U-shaped handle having each of its side arms slidably mounted within an end of one of said tubes, a U-shaped coupling member having its side arms also slidably arranged within said tubes and each connected to an arm of said handle, respectively, and linkage mechanism connecting the crossarm of said coupling member with said movable clutch element, to impart to said machine a torque in the aft direction in excess of said predetermined torque upon engagement of said fixed and movable clutch elements, in response to a rearward pull upon said handle.

9. A machine of the character described comprising a wheeled carrier, a continuously running driving motor upon said carrier, a steering column connected to said carrier and terminating in an operating handle relatively slidably mounted thereon, releasable clutch means having relatively xed and movable clutch elements, to transmit driving power from said motor to at least one of the wheels of said carrier, coupling means between said motor and said fixed clutch element, and motion-transmitting coupling means in part mounted within said column and connecting said handle with said movable clutch element, whereby to power drive said carrier in response to a pressure applied to said handle.

S5 10. A machine as claimed in claim 9, said clutch means having relatively lixed and movable clutch elements, said steering column being comprised of a pair of rearwardly slanting parallel supporting tubes secured to said carrier, and said handle consisting of a U-shaped member having the end of each of its side arms slidably mounted within an end of said tubes, and a U-shaped coupling member having its side arms also arranged to slide within said tubes and connected at each end to one of said rst arms, respectively, and linkage mechanism between the cross-arm of said coupling member and the movable element of said clutch means.

11. A machine of the character described comprising a wheeled carrier, a continuously running driving motor upon said carrier, rst driving means in continuous coupling engagement with said motor, to propel said machine in the fore direction, second driving means aadpted to drive said machine in the aft direction, a steering column connected to said carrier terminating in an operating handle relatively slidably mounted thereon, releasable clutch means connecting said motor with said second drive means, and coupling means between said handle and said clutch means, to intermittently drive said machine in the aft direction by control of said clutch means in respouse to a rearward pull upon said handle.

l2. A machine as claimed in claim l1, first motiontransmitting and torque-converting means between said motor and said first driving means, to propel said machine with a predetermined forward torque, said clutch means having relatively fixed and movable clutch elements, second motion-transmitting and torque-converting means between said motor and the fixed element of said clutch means, said steering column being comprised of a pair of parallel and rearwardly slanting supporting tubes mounted upon said carrier, a U-shaped handle having each of its side arms slidably mounted Within an end of one of said tubes, a U-shaped coupling member having its side arms also slidably arranged within said tubes and each connected to an arm of said handle, respectively, and linkage mechanism connecting the cross-arm of said coupling member with the movable element of said clutch means, to impart to said machine a torque in the aft direction in excess of said predetermined torque, upon engagement of said fixed and movable clutch elements in response to a rearward pull upon said handle.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 23,280 Applegate Oct. 10, 1950 848,275 Wattles Mar. 26, 1907 1,088,746 ToWe Mar. 3, 1914 1,125,152 Newdick Ian. 19, 1915 1,214,513 Crapser Feb. 6, 1917 1,329,604 Iarusz Feb. 3, 1920 1,358,310 Gorny Nov. 9, 1920 1,752,133 wolgamood Mar. 25, 1930 1,867,141 Farnham July l2, 1932 1,954,314 Heitman Apr. 10, 1934 2,205,139 Gunderson June 18, 1940 2,690,892 La Bar Oct. 5, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,047,070 France Dec. 10, 1953 

9. A MACHINE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING A WHEELED CARRIER, A CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING DRIVING MOTOR UPON SAID CARRIER, A STEERING COLUMN CONNECTED TO SAID CARRIER AND TERMINATING IN AN OPERATING HANDLE RELATIVELY SLIDABLY MOUNTED THEREON, RELEASABLE CLUTCH MEANS HAVING RELATIVELY FIXED AND MOVABLE CLUTCH ELEMENTS, TO TRANSMIT DRIVING POWER FROM SAID MOTOR TO AT LEAST ONE OF THE WHEELS OF SAID CARRIER, COUPLING MEANS BETWEEN SAID MOTOR AND SAID FIXED CLUTCH ELEMENT, AND MOTION-TRANSMITTING COUPLING MEANS IN PART MOUNTED WITHIN SAID COLUMN AND CONNECTING SAID HANDLE WITH SAID MOVABLE CLUTCH ELEMENT, WHEREBY TO POWER DRIVE SAID CARRIER IN RESPONSE TO A PRESSURE APPLIED TO SAID HANDLE. 